Where Does Computer Crime Fit?
Cybercrime Continuum
Cybercrime covers a broad spectrum of criminal activity involving computers. At one end of the spectrum is the "ping." A ping is an Internet Control Message Protocol, or ICMP, echo command. It is a protocol for determining the availability of a particular port or more generally a computer by sending a short message and waiting for an acknowledgment. A ping has been likened to a knock at one’s door. Generally it is not illegal. But if one knocked so incessantly as to cause a nuisance, it could be a crime. Likewise, pinging so as to slow or deny service would be a crime.
D
1 of 3